(HKJA/IFEX) – The HKJA condemns the actions of Su Xu, first secretary of the Chinese Embassy in France, in his treatment of John Liauw Chung-ping, a reporter with Hong Kong’s TVB news, during the latter’s coverage of Prime Minister Zhu Rongji’s visit to Paris on 6 April 1998. Following a question Mr Liauw put to […]
(HKJA/IFEX) – The HKJA condemns the actions of Su Xu, first secretary of the
Chinese Embassy in France, in his treatment of John Liauw Chung-ping, a
reporter with Hong Kong’s TVB news, during the latter’s coverage of Prime
Minister Zhu Rongji’s visit to Paris on 6 April 1998.
Following a question Mr Liauw put to Mr Zhu concerning the premier’s
reaction to a protest by members of Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF), Mr Su
subsequently interrogated the TVB reporter in a harsh and aggressive manner,
and told Mr Liauw in no uncertain terms that he should not be asking such
questions. Mr Su went further to say that if the reporter persisted in
asking such questions, any future cooperation with him would be terminated.
The HKJA believes that Mr Su’s actions, being an open attempt to silence Mr
Liauw in the exercise of his rights to press freedom and the performance of
his journalistic duties, are profoundly threatening to the free operation of
the media. The organization strongly demands an apology from Mr Su.
Furthermore, the HKJA urgently seeks clarification from Mr Su on the
underlying implications of his threat of “termination of cooperation.” Do
the authorities in question possess a list of reporters with whom
cooperation has been terminated? The HKJA is resolutely opposed to the
government blacklisting “uncooperative” reporters and demands that the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarify this point as a matter of priority.
Reporters’ duties are to report objectively and accurately. They are not
mouthpieces or tools of any government, party or individual. Officials
should respect the rights and duties of reporters to cover news and must not
abuse their position, power or influence to crack down or threaten reporters
with whom they do not see eye-to-eye.
As a matter of urgency, the HKJA is also writing to Ma Yuzhen, commissioner
of the Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong, to seek his clarification on
whether Mr Su’s comments represent the position of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or the Chinese Government towards Hong Kong reporters.
